Females: Higher Education

Helen Goodman: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what assessment she has made of the effect of the website sponsorascholar.co.uk on young women's education.

Jo Swinson: We are aware of media reports about sponsorascholar.co.uk, a website which seeks to exploit female students. The website has been unavailable since these media reports.
	We are committed to tackling the harm and exploitation that can be associated with prostitution. We want to see the police use the law, where appropriate, to tackle those who have taken advantage of those who are forced into prostitution.
	The Government provides a generous student finance package to eligible higher education students. No eligible student has to pay for their tuition up front. Loans are available to meet the full cost of tuition charges at publicly funded institutions. These loans are not dependent on the student's or family's income. Eligible students at private institutions can apply for non-income assessed loans towards the cost of their tuition.
	Loans and grants for living costs are also available for full-time students who are attending their courses. This student finance package offers all full-time students some help towards living costs, but targets the most generous support at students from the lowest income households.

Females: Higher Education

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the effect of the website sponsorascholar.co.uk on female students' welfare;
	(2)  what steps she is taking to close the website sponsorascholar.co.uk.

Jo Swinson: We are aware of media reports about sponsorascholar.co.uk, a website which seeks to exploit female students. The website has been unavailable since these media reports.
	We are committed to tackling the harm and exploitation that can be associated with prostitution. We want to see the police use the law, where appropriate, to tackle those who have taken advantage of those who are forced into prostitution.
	The Government provides a generous student finance package to eligible higher education students. No eligible student has to pay for their tuition up front. Loans are available to meet the full cost of tuition charges at publicly funded institutions. These loans are not dependent on the student's or family's income. Eligible students at private institutions can apply for non-income assessed loans towards the cost of their tuition.
	Loans and grants for living costs are also available for full-time students who are attending their courses. This student finance package offers all full-time students some help towards living costs, but targets the most generous support at students from the lowest income households.